Summer TV Buzz: Is Your Favourite Cable Show Going To Be Cancelled?

Welcome to the first edition of TVWise’s Summer TV Buzz, the latest run down of industry intel (buzz, if you will) on which of cable’s summer shows will be back next year and which shows will be cancelled. We are kicking things off early with this rundown, so things are fairly fluid and could change in the coming weeks. If you can’t find the show you’re looking for below, then chances are that its new season hasn’t premiered yet or it has already been renewed or cancelled. To check on that, you can use our handy scorecard.

AMC: The network has only one series on the books that has a huge question mark hanging over its head and that is The Killing. Talk of a third season has been fairly quiet and truth be told I’m not hearing an awful lot of optimism about the show coming back. Pin it on the backlash from the shows first season, the drop in viewership for season two, the way the season two finale neatly wrapped everything up, or that a network who has a record of picking up all of its pilots to series recently ordered two drama pilots, but I hear that odds of the show coming back are 60/40 against. For those who will inevitably ask, Mad Men received a two year renewal back in 2011 and so will be back for its sixth season next spring.

FX: Charlie Sheen is riding high over at FX. Comedy series Anger Management premiered as the highest ever rated comedy series in basic cable history and the entire team at the network couldn’t be happier. That said, I hear FX are eager to see what last night’s outing rated, so as to make sure there isn’t a huge drop-off between episodes two and three, though given that the series grew its audience from episode one to episode two that is viewed as unlikely. I would look out for a joint announcement from FX and Debmar-Mercury/Lionsgate announcing that hefty 90 episode back order. Elsewhere, my sources tell me that is is too early to tell regarding the fates of both Louie and Wilfred as they enjoyed ratings gains thanks to airing behind Anger Management. If that pattern holds, however, they expect to renew both Louie and Wilfred.

Lifetime: The female skewing network has already renewed freshman series The Client List for a fifteen episode second season. It is still early days for Drop Dead Diva but my sources tell me that the series has a 50/50 shot at this stage. As for Army Wives despite some reports circulating that the super-sized sixth season will be the show’s last, I’m told that Lifetime deosn’t want to say goodbye to the series just yet and are likely renew the series for a seventh season.

Showtime: The only show in question on the CBS owned network is The Big C, which finished its third season run back in June. My sources tell me that executives at Showtime have yet to make a decision on the future of the series and peg the odds of renewal at 50/50, with one suggesting that a renewal for a fourth and final season was a possibility.

TNT: The Turner owned cable network is having a strong season, so far. For those not keeping track, TNT has renewed Southland, Rizzoli & Isles & Dallas and picked up a new medical-drama series from TV vet David E. Kelley titled Monday Mornings. I spoke to a source at TNT last night who told me “it seems we can’t go wrong this season. Everything has just fallen into place.” That same source also told me that they are close to renewing Falling Skies for a third season, but that rumours which had been circulating of an extended season order of 15 episodes were unfounded. Similarly, I’m told that Franklin & Bash is looking good for a renewal. The network will want to wait and keep an eye on its performance in the ratings before pulling the trigger on a renewal, though. The network also has high hopes for Major Crimes, the spin-off of The Closer which premieres in August.

USA Network: Over at USA, the new seasons of White Collar and Covert Affairs have yet to premiere and all attention seems to be on the network’s upcoming politically themed mini Political Animals. That said, I’m told that no decisions have been made on the fates of either Fairly Legal or Common Law. One source told me that the network didn’t want to pre-judge the numbers for either series as this was the first time the network has had originals on a Friday night in three years. But I’m hearing some speculation that Fairly Legal is on its way out. I’m also told that Suits is a lock for a third season renewal, as is Royal Pains for a fifth season and Burn Notice for a seventh. While I’m also being told that Necessary Roughness is on track for a renewal.

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